Bud Black returned to San Diego, where he managed from 2007 until 2015, with a chance to keep his new club, the Colorado Rockies, in first place in the National League West. The game was shaping up to be the kind of pitcher’s duel Black’s Padres teams won so many of over the years, but a bad sixth inning spoiled Black’s return.
Tyler Chatwood (2-4, 5.40) did not allow a hit until the sixth, but the four he did allow – along with a leadoff walk – produced five San Diego runs and chased the Colorado starter from the game. That was all the offense the Padres needed, as Trevor Cahill (2-2, 3.60) and the bullpen combined to limit Colorado to two runs (one earned) on six hits. The Rockies’ continued a bad trend from the last week, striking out 15 times in the game.
Charlie Blackmon and Nolan Arenado each went 2-for-4, but Colorado produced only two other hits on the night. Ian Desmond single-handedly produced the Rockies’ first run in the second inning when he singled, stole a base, then scored on a two-base throwing error. The Rockies had the bases loaded in the eighth inning with a chance to tie the game after Arenado drove in a run on a swinging bunt, but Carlos Gonzalez struck out to end the inning. Gonzalez and Trevor Story each had three strikeouts in the loss.
With the loss, the Rockies fell a game Colorado continues the three-game series with San Diego on Wednesday night. Rookie Antonio Senzatela (3-1, 2.81) faces off against Jered Weaver (0-2, 4.71). In four meetings so far this year, Weaver is the only San Diego pitcher the Rockies have been able to defeat. First pitch is 8:10 p.m. MDT in San Diego.